John Champness AUSTIN, JR.

                   Possibly served in the Revolutionary War.  William Austin is found among 497 men on the militia rosters from Montgomery County, which later became Grayson and Carroll counties.  Further research notes from AWT included in PAF notes

++AUSTIN++The name of Austin is derived from Augustine and became popular as a surname in the 13th century. The Latin Augustus means "royal, venerable and renowned". The name was enhanced by two saints bearing the name of Augustine. Austin was made familiar by the Austin Friars, or Black Canons, as they were know by their black cloaks, an established monastery of Augustinian hermits in London in the 12th century. Austin began as a surname in 1224 Suffolk, England and families of the name located in Surrey, Norfolk and Kent. Austinus de Bernardeston was listed on Suffolk tax rolls in 1224, Austinus de Beston in Norfolk in 1230 and Henry Austin and Edith Austines were recorded in Worcestor in 1275. Astin de Bennington resided in Lincolnshire County in 1273 The first bishop of Guina was the Right Reverend Piercy Austin, D. D. and one of the most famous authors in English literature was Jane Austen who inherited the Godmersham Estates.In America, the name became famous through Stephen Fuller Austin (Stephen is not related to this Austin family), the founder of the State of Texas. Mary Hunter Austin was the noted American author who wrote chiefly of Indian life in the Untied States. Many bearers of the name were early arrivals during colonial days.Jonah Austin came from Kent to Cambridge, Mass. and was at Hingham, Mass. in 1625. Robert Austin, born in England, was one of the grantees of Westerly and Kingston, in 1661. Richard Austin, a tailor came to Charleston , Mass in 1638.Austin is one of those surnames which was once a popular personal name, now seldom heard as such, it occurs in the Domesday Book as a personal name, rather than a surname. (Note: Austin is used today, and even in Colonial times as a given name fairly frequently. )____________________________________________________________________________________The death of William Austin:Nathaniel Austin and Hannah Austin were appointed to administer William's estate at the fourth session of the Pleas and Quarterly Court, December, 1802. Another William was married to Rebecker Moses in Grainger County, Tennessee on 22 March 1798. In 1802 parts of Grainger and Knox counties were taken to form Anderson County so it is possible that the both Williams lived in the future Anderson County.The second William was instructed in September 1802 by the Pleas and Quarterly Court to bring the children of Milly Austin to the December 1802 session of the court. This second William is assumed to have been the one that married Rebecker Moses, and is further assumed to have been the brother of John and Nathaniel Austin. These three men were found in the 1830 census of White County, Tennessee. The only other Austin involved with the Anderson County business of the subject William was Valentine Austin. Val witnessed a deed from William, however, his name was stricken, and Nathaniel's name was entered, perhaps in 1803 when the deed was proven in court. Locations, unproven, except that William is usually found in close company with the Blevinses who became an important part of the Austin family. Joint migrations are noted from Montgomery County, Virginia down to today. Isaiah Austin is a descendant of John Austin, Jr of Southside, but he married Daniel Blevins' probable daughter, Lucy in Montgomery County, Virginia before 1780 when Isaiah and Lucy's apparent first son, John Austin was born.Lord Dunmore's War - Grayson County's Participation:The presumed list of 107 (all but relevant individuals have been stricken) participants from Herbert's Company follows:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Relationsips are probable, unprovenAtkins, William - allied familyAustin, William - possibly the subjectBlevins, Daniel - Jane Blevins Austin's GrandfatherBlevins, James - JBA's uncleBlevins, William - unknown possibly Will Blevins, Jane's uncleDalton, William > possibly William Austin's father-in-law, or brother-in-law. (See William Dalton's will-things to do)Revolutionary War Soldiers in the Upper New River ValleyA total of 497 men were found to have been 
listed on the various militia rosters from Montgomery County (Revolutionary War Period) for the territory which became Grayson and Carroll County.)ADKINS, WILLIAM, On 1781 List of Osborn's Militia Company - allied familyAUSTIN, ISAAC, On List of Captain James McDaniel's Company, ca. 1782 - unknownAUSTIN, ISAIAH, On Cox's Company Militia roster, probably in 1782. He filed a pension application in 1832 in Grayson Co. age, 73. - Daniel Blevins' son-in-lawAUSTIN, JOSEPH, On List of Captain James McDaniel's Company, ca. 1782 - Isaiah's UncleAUSTIN, STEPHEN, List of Elk Creek Militia on 9/6/1782. - Isaiah's brother or 1st cousinAUSTIN, STEVEN, On List of Captain James McDaniel's Company, ca. 1782 - sameAUSTIN, WILLAIM, Cox's Company, Prob. 1782 - possibly the subjectBLEVINS, DANIEL, On 1777 List of Cox's Militia Company and on undated list of Cox's Company, prob. ca. 1783. - same as aboveBLEVINS, JAMES, Flower Swift's 3rd Undated Militia Roster. - same as aboveBLEVINS, JOHN, On 1777 List of Cox's Militia Company - Jane Blevins Austin's UncleBLEVINS, JONATHAN, On undated list of Cox's Company, prob. ca. 1783. (the Twin of Jane's father)BLEVINS, NATHAN, On Osborn's Militia Rosters of April 2, 1783 and 1785. On undated list of Cox's Company, prob. ca. 1783. (3rd or more distant cousin)BLEVINS, RICHARD, On undated lists of Cox's Company, prob. ca. 1782 and 1783. (the Twin, Jane's father)BLEVINS, WILBER, On undated list of Cox's Company, prob. ca. 1783. - unknownBLEVINS, WILLIAM, On undated lists of Cox's Company, prob. ca. 1782 and 1783. - see aboveMontgomery County, Virginia Land Tax List, 1782Name Acres Value TaxAustin, William 100 20 4/Grayson County Road OrdersAugust 20, 1793. Road from Grassy Creek to Well's Ward's. Thomas Johnson, road overseer, discharged. Ordered that Major Jones and Matthew Dickey, Gents., divide the hands between the three surveyors that keep the road in repair from the top of Iron Mountain to its junction with the Furnace Road. Ordered that a road be viewed from Elk Creek to Fisher's Gap (Fairview) by way of Jones' Ford and by way of Jones's Ford to the new courthouse to Fisher's Gap. Ordered that William Austin and Charles Denny divide the hands between the above overseers. Charles Mayberry be appointed surveyor of the road from the county line to half the distance that William Dalton is to keep in repair. John Paxton appointed surveyor of the road from Green's Creek to county line. On the petition of James Cock a wagon road may be had from the Good Spur to the Old Elk Spur path where it joins the Flower Gap road. Ordered that James Prichett be appointed surveyor in the place of George Reeves. Ordered that John Mitchell Baker be appointed surveyor of the road from the furnace to the river. Andrew Hampton from thence to the Widow Parker's and Flower Swift from thence to the junction of said road to the Fisher's Gap Road. Ordered that William Austin (William was supposed to be in Green County Kentucky by now (?)) and Charles Denny divided the hands between the above overseers. Agreeable to a previous order of the court, William Austin, Charles Denny and Thomas Kenworthy hath viewed the grounds from the Furnace to Dickey's Forge and find the same to convenient as the situation of the county will admit, by way of the new courthouse to said forge. The above surveyors will -- as far as shall seem convenient to them -- follow the blazed trees. Committee to view road from Little River to Brush Creek to make report. 1790 STOKES COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA CENSUS Last Name Given Names 1 2 3 4 5 Austen Nathaniel 1 1 3 0 0 Possible brother to William, not the Nathaniel that was involved during the estate settlement of William - his whereabouts are unknown.